Big s Posted May 18, 2023 Share Posted May 18, 2023 Looks like it’s really coming along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted May 25, 2023 Author Share Posted May 25, 2023 Captain's log: Thursday, May 25th I wasn't expecting to make much progress this week, but it came out better than I thought. Unlike the 1/72 kit, which I treated like a non-transforming fighter, I want to take this kit in a direction which more fittingly exemplifies its tank-like design and feel. As such, I'm planning to forego details like rivets in favor of weld seams, but those details will come later. Pic 37: I used part of a VF-1J tub and seat, since I reckon the control system would be about the same. I then created an armored tub around it, which is faithful to the line-art. I also elected to move the pilot's seat lower into the chest cavity, and this for two reasons: it offers the pilot better protection, and he won't have a massive cannons mere inches from his ears! Pic 38: the main weapons pack is made modular to offer more building possibilities, but also creates some engineering challenges which may come back to bite me in the molding process. Also, the cavities in some places are so deep the milling shank can't reach, so I'll have to go and smooth-out some details with the Dremel. Pic 39: the quad-cannon underboob assembly coming along very nicely indeed. The smaller cannons were a bit of a bear to machine, but patience and persistence paid off. Pic 40: all the missiles will be separate from their housings, so you'll be able to build Thomas with all missile slots filled, empty, and even with missiles in-flight with fins deployed. Pics 41-44 show the kit in its current state of finishing, looking considerably better than it did last week, and I'm happy to say that despite its massive size, the kit is quite sturdy and will have better range of motion than I anticipated, due to a last-minute engineering upgrade. More info in next week's update, so stay tuned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekering Posted May 26, 2023 Share Posted May 26, 2023 Cockpit and quad cannons already look great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MechTech Posted May 29, 2023 Share Posted May 29, 2023 WOW! This one will be out of my scale and budget, but AWESOME looking kit! I'll be following along. - MT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted June 2, 2023 Author Share Posted June 2, 2023 (edited) Captain's Log: Friday, June 2, 2023. Today, in addition to showing you the progress of the master-patterns, I'm going to show you a technique for making recessed details, like vents, scoops and other thingamabobs which are impractical to sculpt manually. This is especially true for recessed details which need to be mirrored or duplicated exactly. In this case, it'll be the recessed triangle shapes on the bottom of the Tommy's shin armor. If you look at pic 45, I begin by creating a buck of the desired shape using some modelling board. I make the part long enough so I can then split it in two so as to have identical, mirrored pieces. Using calipers and a sharp pencil, I calculate the positioning of the shapes and then holding the buck against the part, I simply trace its position on both sides. Pic 46: taking a knife and a sharpened flat-blade screwdriver converted into a chisel, I begin carving the recess very carefully. You want the opening to allow the buck to fit inside, with barely 1/3 of a mm all around. Don't worry about the opening being perfect. Pic 47: spray your bucks with a generous coat of mold release (in this case, Price-Driscoll Ultra 4). Now put these aside and mix your polyester putty and using a tool, generously dab some putty into the recesses and then press the bucks into place and wait. Pic 48: as the putty begins to harden, it starts by becoming just a bit rubbery. This is when you very carefully and gently pull the bucks out, leaving a perfect imprint! Take note: this is a bit of a black art, as removing the buck too quickly will cause the putty to crumble and ruin the detail, whereas if you wait too long to extract, it may not come out at all, mold-release be damned! Pic 49: let the putty harden a couple of hours, then sand away the excess. Voila! Pics 50-52 show the range of motion in the legs. The knee was a bit of a bear to create because it was poorly designed, but I made it work. The one concession is the hinge pin which will need to be inserted during the build and puttied over. Pic 53 shows the main body module without its weapons pack. You'll have the option of displaying it this way if you wish Pic 54: the open cockpit hatch, awaiting yet more details. I opted to have the cockpit hatch merely slide open, as opposed to slide-&-tilt, which just adds unneeded complexity and the sensors get in the way. Pics 55-60: beauty shots! Mke no mistake, there's still lot of detailing needed, but even at this stage the model looks fantastic! I may forego next week's update in order to mold a few parts I need to complete some parts, but know that I'll be chugging right along behind the scenes. Edited June 2, 2023 by captain america Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ignacio Ocamica Posted June 3, 2023 Share Posted June 3, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryHolmes Posted June 4, 2023 Share Posted June 4, 2023 Hey, Cap'n? Do you still have one of your 1/48th Alphas kicking around for scale with this beast? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted June 5, 2023 Author Share Posted June 5, 2023 On 6/4/2023 at 2:38 AM, CoryHolmes said: Hey, Cap'n? Do you still have one of your 1/48th Alphas kicking around for scale with this beast? Nope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted June 16, 2023 Author Share Posted June 16, 2023 Captain's log: Thursday, June 15th, 2023. I've been quite busy adding surface detailing on Thomas, and there's a LOT of it! By virtue of all the parts being large, the sharpness and intricacy required means I can't take the shortcuts I would on a 1/72 subject. I also added a lot of details I didn't have on the 1/72 kit, and so far I'm very pleased with the results. Pic 61 shows the cockpit, or at least, as much of it as can be seen with the viewing screens installed. I made it to resemble a Valk Battroid cocpit with the large monitors but because it sits so low in the chest, much of this will be hard to see unless you remove the head and glacis plate/visor unit. Pics 62-63 show the tremendous detailing work done to the legs and feet. Those little black dots are actually railroad bolts; each one had to be hand-drilled and inserted, and I'm not done yet! I don't know how well these will cast, but they look fantastic! Pics 64-65 show the main torso, the camera unit which will be behind the clear lens, and I also fabricated a somewhat realistic sliding mechanism for the cockpit hatch. Seriously, the artists who drew this had no clue how to engineer anything properly, so I had to go in and do their homework for them. Pics 66-67 show the shoulder pods: missile launcher on the left and searchlight on the right. The former has individual missile doors, and I even did the missiles. The small green one is of the 24 chest missiles, while the large one goes in the shoulder launcher. To install them in their respective launch tubes, merely clip the large fins. So this way you have the option of showing the missile launchers empty, full, or with missiles in flight/display. Pics 68-72 are what I've got so far. It doesn't look like much got done, but my days have been full with tedious detail work and at least one more week to go, but I'm thinking 10 more days and I'll be done. The very last pic (73) shows the Tomahawk in scale with an M1A2 Abrams, just to show you how massive these mecha robots are. More to come next week! 61.HEIC 62.HEIC 63.HEIC 64.HEIC 65.HEIC 66.HEIC 67.HEIC 68.HEIC 69.HEIC 70.HEIC 71.HEIC 72.HEIC 73.heic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolt Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 I wasn't able to see some of the pictures. But awesome details on the legs! And the articulation looks incredible , as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted June 23, 2023 Author Share Posted June 23, 2023 Captain's log: Friday, June 23, 2022. The 1/40 Thomas Hawk patterns are now almost done, and I'm at the stage where I need to mold certain parts to have complete masters. As such, I will push-back the latest update a few days and instead, I'll give you another important scratchbuilding technique: how to make scale weld marks. This technique should also work with plastic and resin kits, though be aware that if you're applying it to thin plastic parts, you may run the risk of warping said part via the application of heat. Pic 74-- What you'll need: -a package of Super Sculpey oven-bake clay -some very sharp files and/or a scriber (etal files are optimal) -a straight edge (in this case I used a piece of plexiglass) -a hairdryer -a tiny spatula: note that any clay modelling tool with a very narrow tip will work) Pic 75: once you've determined the location of the weld marks, trace a quick line with a pencil, then using your file and the straight edge, run your file over the line several times. Go gently at first, then once there's a bit of a groove to guide the file, you can apply a bit more pressure or use a scriber. The goal is to create a ditch which is just wide and deep enough (about 1mm in this case). When you're done, wash the part thoroughly with soapy water and a toothbrush to remove any residual dust. This is critical, otherwise the uper Sculpey will lift away! Pic 76: take a small blob of Super Sculpey and roll it into a noodle with your fingers. Do NOT make it too fine, but instead keep it fat, like 3-4mm in diameter. Pic 77: using your fingers, smear the Super Sculpey into the ditch you created a little at a time. Don't worry about the excess, just make sure the ditch is well filled. Pic 78: using an old hobby knife, press downward and run the blade across the ditch with the cutting edge facing backward. This will help smear the Super Sculpey into its groove and simultaneously help remove the excess. Pic 79: with the excess Super Sculpey carefully removed, use a very lightly moistened spatula and indent the Super Sculpey as shown above. This will be a very frustrating process, as the Sculpey will tend to want to lift up if the ditch isn't deep enough, or if your sptula is dry. The advantage with using Sculpey is that you're not working against the clock as you would be with catalyzed epoxy clay. You can even start over several times if needed. Once your weld marks are done, take your hair dryer on high heat, and heat the Sculpey weld lines for about 2-3 minutes each, then let sit for about 10 minutes for the clay to polymerize. Notice: because the Sculpey is brittle, avoid flexing the part in the case of application on styrene, or put a very light bead of CA glue on the weld to help hold it in place. On modelling board, this isn't necessary. Voilà: easy do-it-yourself weld marks! Next week you will see the 1/48 Thomas Hawk masters in all their glory, so stay tuned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted June 28, 2023 Author Share Posted June 28, 2023 1/48 Destroyed Thomas Hawk masters: done! Now on to mold-prep. If you thought the 1/72 Quincy Rowe was a big kit, wait 'til you get your hands on this thing!! Also a neat surprise: a pilot figure will be included because reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolt Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 That looks fantastic! And the pilot is awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 Just unbelievably awesome!!! Now I know how to make WELD marks I love seeing updates on this kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristopherB Posted June 29, 2023 Share Posted June 29, 2023 Amazing, so much detail, really enjoying seeing this project as it progresses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryHolmes Posted July 1, 2023 Share Posted July 1, 2023 On 6/28/2023 at 10:50 AM, captain america said: Also a neat surprise: a pilot figure will be included because reasons. And those reasons would be because you're an awesome person! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted July 10, 2023 Author Share Posted July 10, 2023 Quick Monday update on the 1/48 Thomas Hawk build: I've been busy making molds. In fact, I completely neglected last week's update so I could finish ALL the molds, test them and show-off the castings! This is one BIG kit, and that doesn't even include the clear parts, so it'll be >1kg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MechTech Posted July 11, 2023 Share Posted July 11, 2023 That's looking absolutely AWESOME!!! Nice n sharp details too! - MT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted July 11, 2023 Author Share Posted July 11, 2023 1 hour ago, MechTech said: That's looking absolutely AWESOME!!! Nice n sharp details too! - MT The advantage of larger scale and a dedication to detail, my friend! When I have my kit mocked-up in a couple of weeks, you'll see how every other Tomahawk, kit or figure, pales by comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derex3592 Posted July 11, 2023 Share Posted July 11, 2023 I absolutely can't wait for @tekering or @cool8or to get a hold of this and knock it out of the park! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted July 18, 2023 Author Share Posted July 18, 2023 The 1/48 Destroyed Thomas Hawk project is coming along nicely! Decal artwork is completed, and casting is nearing the half-way point. 119 opaque parts and 5 clear parts for a total of 124 pieces! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekering Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 Glorious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derex3592 Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 Impressive.......MOST impressive😮 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodman Models Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 Pretty awesome John! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolt Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 Just loving this kit! Incredible job 👍🏼 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted July 24, 2023 Author Share Posted July 24, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekering Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 Oh man, if I hadn't decided to back this I'd be kicking myself right now. 😅 Removing molding imperfections from the surfaces without damaging any of that crisp detail may prove difficult, however... 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted July 25, 2023 Author Share Posted July 25, 2023 1 hour ago, tekering said: Oh man, if I hadn't decided to back this I'd be kicking myself right now. 😅 Removing molding imperfections from the surfaces without damaging any of that crisp detail may prove difficult, however... 🤔 Hey Ted! You'll be happy to know I was able to get the vast majority of the mold parting lines on flat/relatively undetailed areas to make clean-up easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted August 7, 2023 Author Share Posted August 7, 2023 Quick Monday update: all kits are cast and being packaged. Decals should be here next week. I have two (2) final kits available; get them while you can! Now to finalize the instructions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted August 11, 2023 Author Share Posted August 11, 2023 Destructions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted August 11, 2023 Author Share Posted August 11, 2023 Part 2 of 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted August 11, 2023 Author Share Posted August 11, 2023 Part 3 of 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekering Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 Good grief, 37 steps! This is as complex as your Buster kit!* 😲 *Well, almost. Those destructions were 38 steps. 😝 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekering Posted August 24, 2023 Share Posted August 24, 2023 On 6/16/2023 at 9:44 AM, captain america said: I've been quite busy adding surface detailing on Thomas, and there's a LOT of it! Case in point: Check out the detailing on the inside of the missile covers! 😲 We are all blessed to know @captain america. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted August 24, 2023 Author Share Posted August 24, 2023 3 hours ago, tekering said: Case in point: Check out the detailing on the inside of the missile covers! 😲 We are all blessed to know @captain america. Hey Ted, glad to see the kit arrived safely! I'm still waiting to see some completed Biopsycher pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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